Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) delivered a commanding performance to crush Penang FC 7-2 in the FA Cup quarter-final first leg at the City Stadium in George Town on Sunday.
The defending champions virtually sealed their place in the semi-finals with a seven-goal demolition, taking a commanding five-goal lead into the second leg at Sultan Ibrahim Stadium on 9 October.
JDT wasted no time asserting dominance. Striker Bergson da Silva, the Super League’s all-time top scorer, opened the scoring in the 16th minute after winger Manuel Hidalgo beat Penang captain Stefano Brundo and squared the ball for the unmarked Brazilian to fire past goalkeeper Nor Hakeem Hamidun, Utusan reported.
Just before half-time, newly minted Malaysian heritage player Brad Tapp doubled the lead with a long-range strike that left Nor Hakeem stranded, sending JDT into the break 2-0 up. The Australian-born defender, who joined JDT from Central Coast Mariners in July, was recently called up to the Harimau Malaya squad and marked his maiden national team selection with his first goal for the Southern Tigers.
Penang pulled one back through Enzo Celestine, who headed home a Haqimi Azim Rosli cross in the 46th minute to give the home crowd brief hope. But the fightback lasted barely eight minutes before Marcos Guilherme restored JDT’s two-goal cushion in the 54th minute.
Substitute Stoichkov made it four in the 63rd minute, and JDT then scored twice in three minutes through Shahab Zahedi in the 67th minute and Tapp’s second of the night in the 70th, turning the match into a rout, SNE Sports reported.
Nor Hakeem was forced off injured shortly after, replaced by Ashriq Izzat Mazlan. National team forward Arif Aiman Hanapi completed the scoring in stoppage time before Penang substitute Khala’if Naskam grabbed a late consolation.
JDT manager Xisco Munoz praised his squad’s depth and intensity after the match, noting the fierce competition for starting berths in his squad. The Southern Tigers arrived in Penang looking to bounce back from a frustrating draw against Buriram United in their AFC Champions League Elite opener, and responded with one of their most emphatic away performances of the season.
The result leaves Penang facing an almost impossible task in the return leg. Barring a dramatic reversal, JDT will only need to see out the tie to book their place in the FA Cup semi-finals.
